North Carolina health officials alert public to rabies exposure from mobile petting zoo goats

<p>North Carolina health officials are urging individuals who touched baby goats at a mobile petting zoo to contact their local health department after several goats tested positive for rabies.</p><p>The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reported that the infected goats were from Farm Adventures, a mobile petting zoo based in Harmony, North Carolina, which participated in events across multiple counties.</p><p>Individuals who had contact with baby goats from Farm Adventures, either at its Harmony location or at off-site events between July 28 and August 27, should reach out to their local health department to assess the need for preventive medication, according to NCDHHS.</p><p>During this time, NCDHHS noted that Farm Adventures held events involving children and elderly individuals in various counties. Organizers of these events are being informed, and the investigation is ongoing, with additional information about potential exposure locations to be released as it becomes available.</p><p>In a statement on Facebook, Farm Adventures confirmed that four of its baby goats had contracted rabies and that the animals had been euthanized to prevent further transmission.</p><p>The petting zoo identified the affected goats as Molly, Maggie, Cow, and Uno.</p><p>Farm Adventures stated, "We are working closely with public health officials, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, and animal control to address this issue and ensure the safety of our animals and clients."</p><p>According to the zoo, the baby goats were kept in a separate pen from other animals. The goats were too young to receive vaccinations when a skunk entered their pen. Although the skunk was removed, the petting zoo was unaware that the goats had been bitten.</p><p>Farm Adventures reported that the goats showed no signs or symptoms of rabies.</p><p>After a veterinarian investigated the situation, one of the animals was sent for a necropsy. State health officials confirmed that several goats tested positive for rabies at the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health.</p><p>Farm Adventures stated, "These past few days have been incredibly difficult for us." Rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal if medical care is not received before symptoms appear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p>The virus primarily spreads through bites or scratches from infected animals. Bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes are the animals most commonly found with rabies in the U.S., according to the CDC.</p><p>The CDC estimates that approximately 100,000 Americans receive rabies vaccinations following potential exposure each year. Human rabies infections are rare in the U.S., with no reported cases in North Carolina since 2011, as stated by NCDHHS.</p>